The new gateway building, Ideal Saldi Hall, will become the official entrance to the Johnson College campus. Named to honor a $1,000,000 gift made to the campaign by Johnson College Alum Ideal Saldi ‘49 and his wife, Frances, the new building will be the first that students see upon arrival and will highlight their future career potential by featuring various industry training opportunities offered at the College. Several industry-focused exhibits, as well as interactive views of students actively learning, will be showcased in this new space.

The Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and Electrical Construction Technology (ECT) programs are consistently two of the most highly-enrolled programs at Johnson College. Current on-campus space dedicated to these two programs includes a 5,000 sq. ft. laboratory, but recent equipment enhancements have significantly reduced the learning space required for the number of students who want to enroll.

The plan is to expand the current Woolworth Hall facility by 2,500 sq. ft. This space will require minimal construction as it will be sharing offices and supply areas with the existing laboratory. Extensive necessary site preparation work was performed with the original building construction, making the expansion more affordable. Heating, plumbing and lighting systems will be required, and students will build their own HVAC system as part of their hands-on training.

The HVAC and EMCT building expansion will give the College the opportunity to safely space out equipment and provide dedicated and permanent areas for all major training equipment. The enhanced laboratory space will also provide separation of students when two labs are running concurrently, a safer workspace for students/instructors, and improved visibility during demonstrations.

The transportation industry is undergoing vast changes at lightning speed as more and more electric vehicles enter the marketplace. In addition, new green technology is complex and requires an entirely new set of skills including computer diagnostics and repair. Johnson College students will be at the forefront of the transportation industry with expert training in these technologies in the Transportation Education Center.

Plans include an addition to the current Diesel Truck Technology Center laboratory and relocation of the Automotive Technology Department creating a brand-new Transportation Education Center encompassing Diesel Truck Technology, Automotive Technology, and the Heavy Equipment Technology programs. This new combined facility will provide a collaborative, resource sharing environment between these associated training areas. New synergies and program growth opportunities will create enhanced learning and cross training connections.

The Annual Fund provides Johnson College with the financial resources to operate efficiently and within budget year after year. Additionally, the fund allows the College to provide much-needed financial assistance to our students, maintain our facilities, and enhance our learning opportunities. Your gift during this five-year campaign period enables us to continue investing in our students as we grow our physical plant and programs of study.

The Annual Fund supports several scholarships, including the Presidential Scholarship. These scholarships are essential to assist students facing financial challenges to stay in school and finish their degrees. With your support, these important scholarships will help our students continue on their journey to graduation.